Degree: BS Psychology ’19
Minor: Neuroscience
Research Interests: Cognitive neuroscience
Extracurricular activities: Psi Chi Marketing Liaison, Research Assistant at the Applied Neuro-Technologies Lab and the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
Awards: Humanities and Social Sciences Fellowship 2018; Senior Psychology Research Award; Undergraduate Research Travel Grant

Which element of your Drexel experience do you identify with most, and why?

My favorite thing – and the one with which I identify the most – has been the flexibility in the academic curriculum. Drexel has provided me with plenty of opportunities to explore the field of psychology, as well as other fields. Most of these opportunities were embedded in the psychology plan of study itself, but also in the amount of free electives I had; some I used towards my neuroscience minor, others to do fun stuff like dance and piano. I consider myself an eclectic person, and coming from a country where plans of study are very rigid, the flexibility to take whichever class I wanted and try new things was refreshing and enjoyable. I definitely took advantage of it.

What led you to choose your major?

I studied psychology in high school, but psychology back home is very limited, with industrial, operational and clinical being pretty much the only options. I wanted to try new things, explore new venues. At Drexel, I was able to meet great faculty who helped me figure out my focus. Among them are Dr. O and Dr. Chrysikou, who mentored me and helped me explore cognitive neuroscience.

Coolest experience you’ve had through your major?

Presenting research at the Cognitive Neuroscience Conference in San Francisco is definitely up there in terms of experiences. March 2019 has been forever marked by this event as my first success in the world of academia. It was an extremely enriching experience to see scientists from all over the world present and discuss their work.

Tell us about any research experiences you’ve had as a Drexel student.

Research experience has defined my last two years at Drexel. In the beginning, I was scared to get involved because I didn’t really know what it entailed. Being in a lab helped me acquire so many valuable skills I could have never learned otherwise. One of my favorite things was being able to interact and learn from graduate students and other lab staff. Labs are a very enriching environment, full of opportunities for learning pretty much whatever you would need for succeed in the field. In my case, I was also lucky enough to be in labs where people are constantly supporting and helping each other.

Why would you recommend your degree program at Drexel?

I would highly recommend the psychology program at Drexel. First, the faculty is amazing, full of very knowledgeable, dedicated academics who are always willing to help. Second, the department offers many instances to get involved in its community such as Psi Chi and the Psychology Club. Finally, the ample opportunities to get involved in research – this was by far the one that made the greatest impact on me, considering that I come from a place where this is not possible for most students.

What are your goals for after graduation?

At the moment, I am looking to gain more experience as a research assistant and develop more of those valuable skills I mentioned earlier. Graduate school is definitely in my future as well, as I hope to get a master’s degree and eventually a PhD.